When not starring in wrestling team The Jackrabbits, Tanner Sloan studies animal science and plans to continue her studies in agriculture this fall.
Tanner Sloane at the U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. (provided photo)
BROOKINGS, South Dakota — South Dakota State University wrestler and animal science graduate Tanner Sloane plans to wrestle after high school, let alone win two major silver medals in less than a year I wasn’t sure.
In October 2022, Sloan finished second at the U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, and finished second in the 197-pound division at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in March 2023. .
It wasn’t until his senior year at Albanet High School in Albanet, Iowa that Sloan began considering wrestling at the college level. With the help of football coaches, he connected with his SDSU wrestling coaching staff and toured the campus.
After visiting Brookings, SDSU quickly became the perfect place for Sloan. SDSU was the best of both worlds, allowing him to continue wrestling while earning a degree in animal science.
Prior to attending SDSU, Sloan was involved in 4-H, FFA, football and wrestling. During that time, he built a sheep herd and raised several cows, while also excelling in high school football and wrestling, being named one of Iowa’s top three running backs and winning two titles in state wrestling.
Sloan began his college wrestling career as a redshirt freshman and had great success over the past five years with the SDSU wrestling team, qualifying for four NCAA Division I wrestling championships at 197 pounds. This year’s tournament was unlike any other, with Sloan feeling more confident and prepared. Entering the tournament as the No. 7 seed, Sloan had an impressive run all the way to the championship game, where he won the silver medal.
“There was a lot of emotion in this NCAA Tournament, and finishing the season healthy was a big part of my success this year,” Sloan said. “Being able to focus on improving and having fun in wrestling as opposed to rehab or injury makes a big difference to my mental health.”
Sloan also represented Team USA on two occasions. He won silver at the 2019 U20 World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia and the 2022 U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
When asked if he ever imagined getting the chance to wrestle at an international level, Sloan replied: I never thought I would end up wrestling in college, and I had no idea what opportunities were in front of me. But when I started practicing hard in my freshman year and realized how much I was improving, my eyes opened and my goals changed. The goal changed from a desire to be a member of the world team to a desire to become a world medalist. become a silver medalist. “
In addition to the honor of representing Team USA in international tournaments, Sloan still cherishes the opportunity to represent SDSU and contribute to the Jackrabbit team.
“It’s a very personal sport, but at the same time we have a team,” Sloan said. “It’s like a football team winning a national title together. We win a duel together and it’s fun. It’s rewarding to see everyone give everything they have for each other. It is a matter of
While learning to juggle school and wrestling, Sloane enjoys the hands-on learning that the SDSU Animal Science Program offers. From vaccinations to participating in weaning protocols, testing lambs, and learning how to process them at the SDSU Meat Institute, Sloan says these hands-on learning opportunities will help her earn an animal science degree at SDSU. He says it was a big selling point that he chose to acquire. .
He completed his bachelor’s degree in May, and Sloan will remain at SDSU, attending graduate school for interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on agriculture, and will work on his final season at JackRabbits.
“My original goal as a college athlete was to represent the United States,” Sloan said. “As I grew as a wrestler over the last few years, my goals changed when I realized I was more than just an All-American. We are setting our sights on the next target.”
— SDSU Cafe
